19500613 minutes v
TRANSCRIPT
A meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee was held in
the offices of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
in Washington, D. C., on Tuesday, June 13, 1950, at 2:15 p.m.
PRESENT: Mr. McCabe, Chairman Mr. Sproul, Vice Chairman Mr. Davis Mr. Draper Mr. Eccles Mr. Erickson Mr. Peyton Mr. Szymczak Mr. C. S. Young
Mr. Morrill, Secretary Mr. Carpenter, Assistant Secretary Mr. Thomas, Economist Messrs. Peterson, Stead, and John H.
Williams, Associate Economists Mr. Rouse, Manager, System Open Market
Account Mr. Thurston, Assistant to the Board
of Governors Mr. Riefler, Assistant to the Chairman,
Board of Governors Mr. Sherman, Assistant Secretary Mr. Ralph Young, Director, Division of
Research and Statistics, Board of Governors
Mr. Youngdahl, Chief, Government Finance Section, Division of Research and Statistics, Board of Governors
Mr. Arthur Willis, Special Assistant, Securities Department, Federal Reserve Bank of New York
Messrs. Williams, Gidney, Gilbert, and Leedy, alternate members of the Federal Open Market Committee
Messrs. Leach, McLarin, and Earhart, Presidents of the Federal Reserve Banks of Richmond, Atlanta, and San Francisco, respectively
Mr. Wurts, Assistant Vice President, Federal Reserve Bank of New York
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Upon motion duly made and seconded and by unanimous vote, the minutes of the meetings of the Federal Open Market Committee held on February 28 and March 1, 1950, were approved.
Upon motion duly made and seconded and by unanimous vote, the actions of the executive committee of the Federal Open Market Committee as set forth in the minutes of the meetings of the executive committee held on March 1, April 12, and May 3, 1950, were approved, ratified, and confirmed.
Before this meeting there had been sent to each member of the
Committee a copy of a report of open market operations prepared at
the Federal Reserve Bank of New York covering the period from March 1,
1950, to June 7, 1950, inclusive. Mr. Rouse commented briefly on this
report and also on a supplemental report covering commitments executed
for the System account during the period June 8 to June 12, 1950,
inclusive. Copies of both reports have been placed in the files of
the Federal Open Market Committee.
Upon motion duly made and seconded and by unanimous vote, the transactions in the System account for the period February 28, 1950, to June 12, 1950, inclusive, were approved, ratified, and confirmed.
Chairman McCabe reported briefly on developments since the
last meeting of the Committee referring particularly to the letter
sent to the Secretary of the Treasury, pursuant to action of the
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executive committee of the Federal Open Market Committee, under date
of May 25, 1950, a copy of which had been sent to each member of the
Committee. He stated that up to the present time no reply to that
letter and no comment with respect to the recommendations contained
in it had been received from the Treasury Department.
There followed a discussion of the relationship of Treasury
financing to System credit policy during which Mr. Sproul made a
statement substantially as follows:
System credit policy is restricted to a modest policy so far as money rates are concerned. The older method of substantial changes in rates is not practicable or necessary in this situation. Since our policy must be a modest one, it should be a timely and flexible one. We have tried to base policy in the past on the whole situation and not on one or a few indicators. There has been no change in our policy since we changed last fall from a policy of ease to one of neutrality. Meantime there has been a substantial change in the economic situation, in business sentiment, in private capital expenditures, in inventory accumulation, and in prices. On the other hand, bank credit has declined about seasonally during the spring, and the Federal Reserve Banks and commercial banks have moved about $3 billion of Government securities into nonbank hands. There is the question which was discussed during the spring of whether, in order to maintain the economy at a sufficiently high level of production to absorb the increasing labor force, we have to keep some element of stimulation in it.
If we were convinced that we are experiencing a balanced expansion in durable and nondurable goods we would need to do nothing about it. But I do not think we are having a balanced expansion. It is based too much on a high level of activity in housing and automobiles, aided by too easy terms for mortgage financing and consumer credit. In these circumstances, the contribution of a
modest credit policy should be to try to restrain a too rapid increase until the whole economy is in better
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balance. That calls for a firming of short-term rates by 1/8 per cent as soon as the Treasury's July 1 financing is out of the way. There should be some further decline in prices of long-term Governments and if we come to a situation when we are faced with the decision whether to let long-term bonds go below par, I would let them go below par. The situation is very different from the one existing the last time we faced this question.
The Treasury needs for new money have been reduced to about $1.8 billion for the fiscal year with only a small amount needed in the third quarter of this calendar year. In this situation there should be no embarrassment to the Treasury in such firming of interest rates as we are talking about. Such a policy would contemplate breaking a 1-1/4 per cent one-year rate early in July. It would be an indication of policy to the money market and would facilitate some downward movement of prices in the long-term market. It should be followed quickly by some increase in discount rates which would be a signal to the whole financial community and to the public that there has been a change in our policy in the light of the changed business and credit situation. We should continue to press for the Treasury getting additional money so far as possible from nonbank investors. In the circumstances, it makes no difference whether the money comes from a marketable or a nonmarketable bond but we should emphasize the desirability of it coming from nonbank sources.
In the ensuing discussion Mr. C. S. Young raised the question
whether an increase in margin requirements would be desirable in
view of recent rises in prices of stocks and stock market activity.
Chairman McCabe stated that the Board had considered this
matter at a meeting this morning and that it had come to the con
clusion that no change in margin requirements was desirable at this
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time. At his request there were distributed copies of a confidential
memorandum prepared in the Division of Research and Statistics of the
Board of Governors under date of June 8, 1950, with respect to the
question of margin requirement policy.
There then followed a visual presentation of the economic
situation by members of the staff of the Board's Division of Research
and Statistics.
Following the visual presentation, Mr. Thomas made a statement
regarding what the analysis signified in terms of Federal Reserve
policy. He stated that recent developments appeared to have many of
the aspects of a boom, that a substantial volume of business capital
expenditures had been taking place and some contraction might now be
expected, that increased consumer buying of consumer durable goods and
housing was proceeding at a rate which probably would not be sustained,
and that rises in prices of an unexpected and most alarming character
had taken place during the last four months. Credit expansion, he
said, had taken place in real estate, consumer credit, and the stock
market at a rate more rapid than at any other time in the postwar period,
and if business credit should increase even at a seasonal pace the
overall expansion would be almost unprecedented. Mr. Thomas also
said that, reflecting the policy of selling Government bonds from the
System account, bank credit in U. S. Government securities had con
tracted thus far this year, that that had had a stabilizing influence,
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but that if the trend should be reversed accompanying a continuation
of the expansion of credit in other fields there would be cause for
alarm. He added that the rise in prices of real estate and commodities
of the type now occurring and under conditions now existing was a
clear indication of an unhealthy situation, and the expansion in
credit had been sufficiently broad to justify the use of general
quantitative powers of credit restraint without emphasis on selective
credit controls.
After discussing existing limitations on Federal Reserve
actions, Mr. Thomas suggested policies which might be considered by
the Committee. These included the purchase of short-term securities
more reluctantly with consequent rises in short-term rates after
July 1, an increase in the discount rate of the Federal Reserve
Banks, a recommendation to the Treasury that new money to finance
the Government deficit be obtained through the issuance of a non
marketable bond, and that securities maturing in September be
refunded with an intermediate-term bond. He added that sales of
long-term bonds for the System account probably should be discontinued
in the event the Treasury issued a nonmarketable long-term bond and
that in the event of a decline in bond prices the policy of the
System should be to maintain orderly markets but avoid rigid support
of prices.
There followed a discussion of the economic situation during
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which Mr. John H. Williams stated that he felt the present offered
an almost unparalleled opportunity for the System to do something to
follow up the statement issued by the Federal Open Market Committee on
June 28, 1949, as there might never be a time when we could act with
less embarrassment to the Treasury. For reasons which he outlined,
he felt that nothing would be as well understood by the public or
carry as much conviction as an increase in the discount rate.
Mr. Stead suggested the possibility that the estimates of
employment were on the optimistic side and that in the next few months
we might experience some increase in unemployment. While this might
not be serious in relation to total employment, it might result in
pressures for steps to counteract that trend. A related subject, he
said, was the indication of lower agricultural production resulting
from insect infestation which would reduce farm income, and a third
weakness was the rate of increase in consumer and mortgage credit
which indicated that we are sustaining a high level of consumer
expenditures and incomes by a rapid increase in consumer credit.
These points made him more inclined to question whether the present
upsurge could be sustained.
Mr. Peterson questioned whether there was sufficient optimism
in the whole economy to sustain an accelerating boom for any length
of time. He suggested that there was a feeling of caution among small
businessmen which would dampen the current inflationary boom.
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Mr. Evans joined the meeting during the foregoing statements,
having just arrived in Washington from the West.
During consideration of the suggestions that had been made
earlier in the meeting concerning credit policies that might be adopted,
Mr. Sproul stated that in the light of all of the factors in the
situation it seemed to him that as soon as the Treasury's July 1
refunding was out of the way the System should follow a policy of
bringing about a rise in short-term rates looking to an issuing rate
of 1 3/8 per cent on one-year Treasury certificates in September.
He felt that the increase in short-term rates would be a signal to
the financial community of a change from the policy of neutrality
adopted in the fall of 1949, that to make clear to the public the change
in policy there should also be a prompt increase in the discount rate
of the Federal Reserve Banks probably about mid-July, and that these
actions should be accompanied by continuing to supply long-term bonds
from the open market account although, as suggested by Mr. Thomas,
the release of securities might be modified in the event the Treasury
issued a long-term bond. With respect to prices of long-term Treasury
bonds, Mr. Sproul did not think the Committee was now faced with the
problem of whether such securities should be allowed to fall below
par but that he now felt that if that question should arise during
the next few weeks they should not be supported at par.
Mr. Eccles stated that he felt the first thing to do was to
make every effort to induce the Treasury to finance the deficit and
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if possible to refund some of the maturing securities with funds
obtained from nonbank investors, and that to that end the Committee should
recommend to the Treasury that it issue as soon as possible a nonmarketable
15-year 2-1/2 per cent bond on a tap basis. As a part of the program,
he felt that the Committee should do what it could to increase the short
term rate so that the September and October refunding of the Treasury
would be done on the basis of a 1 3/8 per cent one-year certificate
rate. He recognized that to be most effective an increase in short
term rates should be accompanied by a rise in the discount rate. How
ever, he questioned whether the Federal Reserve Banks should increase
the rate as soon as suggested by Mr. Sproul. Such action, he said,
would increase the spread between the discount rate and the short-term
rate on Government securities which would discourage the use by member
banks of the discount facilities of the Reserve Banks to adjust their
reserve position from week to week. While he did not anticipate that
long-term bonds would decline to par in the near future, he suggested
that if prices declined to around 100-1/2 the Committee review its
policy before testing the market closer to par.
Mr. Evans said that he did not think at the moment that the
Committee was faced with the problem of allowing long-term securities
to decline below par and that should that question arise there should
be another meeting of the Committee.
Comments of the other members of the Committee and of the
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Presidents of the other Federal Reserve Banks indicated general
agreement with the suggestion for an increase in short-term rates and
continuance for the time being of the present policy of making long
term bonds available from the System account.
The meeting then recessed and reconvened on Wednesday, June
14, 1950, at 10:10 a.m. with the same attendance as at the close of
the session on June 13 except that Mr. Thomas was not present.
Chairman McCabe referred to the instructions to be issued to
the executive committee with respect to sales of long-term bonds from
the System account and to the understanding at the meeting on March
1, 1950, that, operating under the general direction issued by the
Federal Open Market Committee to the executive committee, and within
the limits imposed by the terms of Treasury financing and by the
necessity of avoiding a loss of confidence in the long-term Government
securities market, the executive committee would continue to sell long
term securities from the System account unless and until there was a
change in the business situation which made it undesirable to pursue
that policy. He suggested that, in the light of the discussion at the
session yesterday afternoon, the executive committee be authorized to
continue to carry out that understanding until the price of the longest
restricted Treasury bond reached 100-1/2, at which time sales would be
discontinued and, if the market continued weak, the executive committee
would be authorized to purchase such securities at declining prices as
might be necessary to preserve orderly market conditions.
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There was a further discussion of the timing of an increase
in the discount rate at the Federal Reserve Banks and, while it was the
consensus that the increase should not be made effective until the
short-term market rate increased somewhat, there was no decision on the
question what level in the short-term rate would call for discount
rate action. Mr. Sproul thought the action could be taken about the
middle of July.
Turning to the question of current Treasury financing needs,
Chairman McCabe suggested that he and Mr. Sproul be authorized to
supplement the suggestion contained in the letter to the Secretary of
the Treasury dated May 25, 1950 by urging that the Treasury issue
promptly a nonmarketable bond of the series A type, and that the
question whether there should be a further written communication to
the Treasury be left for determination by himself and Mr. Sproul
following the meeting with the Secretary.
The foregoing suggestion was approved by unanimous vote.
In considering the general direction to be issued to the
executive committee, it was suggested that there be added to the
second paragraph a sentence which would provide that the authority
to arrange for purchases of securities directly from the Treasury
would terminate on June 30, 1950, unless the authority of the Federal
Reserve Banks to effect such transactions was extended by the Congress.
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With respect to the limitations contained in the direction, Mr.
Rouse stated that the present limitations appeared to be satisfactory.
Thereupon, upon motion duly made and seconded, the following direction to the executive committee was approved unanimously with the understanding that the limitations contained in the direction would include commitments for the System open market account:
The executive committee is directed, until otherwise directed by the Federal Open Market Committee, to arrange for such transactions for the System open market account, either in the open market or directly with the Treasury (including purchases, sales, exchanges, replacement of maturing securities, and letting maturities run off without replacement), as may be necessary, in the light of changing economic conditions and the general credit situation of the country, for the practical administration of the account, for the maintenance of orderly conditions in the Government security market, and for the purpose of relating the supply of funds in the market to the needs of commerce and business; provided that the aggregate amount of securities held in the account at the close of this date other than special short-term certificates of indebtedness purchased from time to time for the temporary accommodation of the Treasury shall not be increased or decreased by more than $2,000,000,000.
The executive committee is further directed, until otherwise directed by the Federal Open Market Committee, to arrange for the purchase for the System open market account direct from the Treasury of such amounts of special short-term certificates of indebtedness as may
be necessary from time to time for the temporary accommodation of the Treasury; provided that the total amount of such certificates held in the account at any one time shall not exceed $1,000,000,000. The direction
in this paragraph will terminate on June 30, 1950, unless the authority of the Federal Reserve Banks to purchase securities directly from the Treasury is extended by the Congress.
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The policy to be followed in the replacement of System
maturing bill holdings was then discussed and it was agreed unanimously
that no change should be made in the existing understanding that the
executive committee would be guided by what would be required in the
light of current conditions in the money market to carry out the
general credit policy of the Federal Open Market Committee.
In connection with the ranges within which bills and certificates
would be purchased by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York for the
System account, it was suggested that the Federal Open Market Committee
continue the existing authority to the executive committee to determine
from time to time the ranges within which such purchases would be
made, with the understanding, however, that after July 1, 1950, the
upper limit of such ranges would be increased from 1.24 to 1.36 per
cent, and that the authority would continue to be exercised within the
framework of the general credit policy of the Federal Open Market
Committee.
Upon motion duly made and seconded and by unanimous vote, this suggestion was approved.
A draft of a statement of policy to guide the executive committee in
relation to transactions in long-term bonds, designed to conform to the views expressed in the discussions of the Committee earlier in this meeting, was presented, and after discussion was approved unanimously in the following form:
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Operating under the general direction issued by the Federal Open Market Committee to the executive committee, the executive committee is authorized to continue to sell long-term securities from the System account unless and until there is a change in the business and credit situation, or the Treasury issues new securities to finance the deficit, which would make it undesirable to pursue the policy further. Should the price on the longest restricted issue decline to between 100-1/2 to 100-3/4 the executive committee would direct only such operations as were necessary to maintain orderly market conditions pending a meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee which would be called promptly to consider, in the light of the statement approved at the meeting on June 28, 1949, how far any further decline that would be brought about by market conditions would be permitted to go.
It was understood that the next meeting of the Presidents'
Conference would be held in Boston on September 21 and 22 and that the
next meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee and the joint
meeting of the Presidents and the Board would be held in Washington
on September 27 and 28, 1950, unless developments made it necessary
to call a meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee before that
time.
Thereupon the meeting adjourned.
Secretary.
Chairman.